posted on October 2, 2001 12:40:46 PM new
I've lived in different countries and every Mickey D's, Kentucky Fried, Pizza Hut, and so on that we went to was frequented by the local nationals more than tourists. Heck, some of the Mickey D's were way the heck and gone out in the boonies(and not prime vacation spots) and they were ALWAYS busy, no matter what time of the year we went. From my experiences, I'd say the locals like our fast food joints as much as we do.
There was a story in the local paper a few days ago about a Kentucky Fried restaurant in China that was the most popular place to eat even with its outrageously expensive prices and was putting local restaurants out of business.
Every time we return stateside we're amazed at how the rest of the world seems to cease to exist. Trying to find out what's going on in the rest of the world requires more effort than just opening the local paper or turning on the TV to CNN.
posted on October 4, 2001 06:35:46 AM new
I used to want to go to Greece. Not any more...
"Not long after the September 11th attack, some 30,000 Greek soccer fans, attending a Uefa match against Scotland in Athens, jeered through the moment's silence held in honour of the terror victims.
The Scots looked on aghast as they then tried to burn the Stars and Stripes in the stands."
posted on October 4, 2001 12:25:41 PM new
Greece has been pissed at the US because we don't favor them over Turkey--striving instead to support them equally so that peace is maintained.
Judging by what you posted, the fact that in 1994 (most recent figures I can find on Net) the US was their largest foreign investor to the tune of about $1.5 billion, have provided them with more than $11.1 billion in economic and security assistance since 1946, and that in 1995 Greece was the fourth-largest recipient of U.S. security assistance, receiving loans totaling $255.15 million in foreign military financing doesn't seem to mean a whole lot to them.
I often think that we should be a bit less open-handed--people don't appreciate it.
posted on October 4, 2001 01:29:39 PM new
Bunnicula - Boy do I agree. Most of the time the aid is wasted or put in some big wheels swiss account.
Sure lots of them need the aid, but there are old people here trying to decide between filling their prescription and buying groceries. It would not take many Billions of reduced aid to help some of our own significantly.
posted on October 4, 2001 02:50:38 PM new
Add me to that agreement. I don't know why we give all these loans to other countries. Do they ever pay them back? I know half the time we forgive the loans for one reason or another.
posted on October 4, 2001 03:50:28 PM new
We don't play around with finances with other countries so their populace will love us, we do it so we can have leverage with their government when we want it. So, if the Greek government does what we want them to this time, the money wasn't ill-spent, no matter what a bunch of soccer hooligans do.
And who says you should be able to buy love and respect with money anyway, whether it's a gal you buy an expensive dinner for, or a whole country?
posted on October 4, 2001 04:16:25 PM new
Yup, that's about half of the means to creation of a superpower and the other half is military force. The same means that we are currently employing to create a coalition against terrorism.
posted on October 5, 2001 04:04:54 PM new
Many thanks for that link deliteful. My experience of the US media is that a world does not exist outside US, unless it is a war. Please see my thread with links to UK news sites. We have lived with terrorism for 100 years!
posted on October 5, 2001 05:55:32 PM new
I've said this before, but it's not that Americans don't care or are not interested in Europe, it's just that what happens there has an infinitismal affect on us. In Europe, with everyone 100 miles apart, if the producers of cheese raise prices a quarter, it's big news. Can you imagine Ch 7 news: "French producers raise cost of cheese $.25". News at 11.
Our economy is so huge that our dealings with the rest of the world are tiny in comparison. If you depend on someone for the basic goods and services of life, you'd be sure to know a heck of a lot more than if you thought of someplace as a quaint place to visit with friendly people.
